Senior Perception & Navigation Engineer - Spacecraft Autonomy

Lead Perception & Navigation Engineer - Build the Autonomy Stack for Next-Generation SpacecraftGolden, Colorado | On-siteJoin a well-funded, seed-stage space startup developing a new class of spacecraft designed to autonomously interact, assemble, and operate together in orbit. The platform depends on multiple spacecraft elements being able to detect one another, estimate relative position and motion, navigate in close proximity, and execute autonomous rendezvous and docking with a high degree of reliability. As the Lead Perception & Navigation Engineer, you will own the perception and navigation architecture that makes this autonomy possible. You will lead development of the relative navigation, state estimation, sensor fusion, and perception systems that allow spacecraft to understand where they are relative to one another and safely close the loop from sensing through control. This is a hands-on technical leadership role with broad ownership across algorithms, sensor requirements, simulation, flight software, testing, and hardware integration. You will define the system from the ground up and work closely with controls, avionics, embedded software, and spacecraft systems engineers to bring autonomous proximity operations into flight.We are a well-funded, seed-stage space technology company building modular spacecraft systems designed to operate collaboratively in orbit. Our team is developing the hardware and autonomy required for individual spacecraft elements to rendezvous, connect, and ultimately operate as a larger integrated vehicle. The company is moving toward flight demonstrations and expanding the core engineering team responsible for turning this architecture into an operational spacecraft platform.Job DutiesLead the architecture and development of the spacecraft perception and navigation stackOwn relative navigation and state estimation for rendezvous, proximity operations, approach, and dockingDevelop real-time algorithms for relative position, velocity, attitude, pose, and motion estimationDesign and implement multi-sensor fusion architectures using EKF, UKF, nonlinear estimation, and related techniquesDefine sensing requirements including accuracy, update rate, latency, field of view, calibration, observability, and measurement qualityHelp select and characterize the sensor suite used for autonomous relative navigationDevelop perception algorithms that convert raw sensor measurements into reliable relative-state informationBuild measurement and observation models for ranging, bearing, pose, and other relative-navigation inputsOwn the technical interface between perception, navigation, guidance, and controlEstablish navigation accuracy and uncertainty budgets required for stable closed-loop spacecraft operationsDevelop sensor calibration, debiasing, outlier rejection, residual monitoring, and fault-handling approachesBuild simulation environments to evaluate navigation and autonomy performance across nominal and off-nominal scenariosDevelop flight-ready navigation and perception software in C++ and PythonIntegrate algorithms into onboard flight software and embedded computing environmentsValidate system performance through software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop testingClose the full perception-to-control loop on flight-like hardwareAnalyze estimator performance, covariance consistency, sensor behavior, and navigation uncertaintyDevelop autonomous capabilities that allow spacecraft to perceive, approach, align with, and interact with another vehicleDefine system requirements and technical roadmaps for future generations of spacecraft perception and navigationSupport flight operations, telemetry analysis, on-orbit performance monitoring, and anomaly investigationsContribute to absolute spacecraft navigation and orbit-state estimation after multiple spacecraft are operating as a combined vehicleQualificationsBachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, robotics, computer science, physics, mathematics, or a related technical field4+ years of professional experience in perception, navigation, state estimation, sensor fusion, autonomy, or closely related algorithm developmentStrong understanding of real-time state estimation and probabilistic filteringExperience developing systems that estimate position, pose, motion, or state from real-world sensor dataStrong background in sensor fusion, uncertainty propagation, observability, covariance analysis, and estimator tuningExperience developing measurement models and integrating multiple sensing modalities into navigation systemsStrong C++ and Python development skillsExperience deploying algorithms onto physical robotic, autonomous, aerospace, or embedded systemsAbility to take ownership of a technically complex subsystem from requirements and architecture through implementation and testingAbility to work independently and make sound technical decisions in a fast-moving startup environmentPreferred ExperienceExperience building perception or navigation systems for spacecraft, autonomous vehicles, drones, robotics, or other autonomous platformsExperience with relative navigation, rendezvous, proximity operations, docking, formation flight, or multi-agent systemsBackground in computer vision, visual navigation, visual-inertial odometry, relative pose estimation, or feature-based perceptionDeep experience with Kalman filtering, EKF, UKF, nonlinear estimation, covariance tuning, residual analysis, adaptive estimation, or related techniquesExperience working with optical, camera, range, RF, inertial, or other navigation sensorsExperience with sensor characterization, calibration, debiasing, image processing, and measurement processingFamiliarity with SLAM, localization, tracking, mapping, or other robotics perception methodsExperience developing autonomous decision-making or closed-loop robotic behaviorsExperience with hardware-in-the-loop testing and high-fidelity simulationFamiliarity with embedded software development and real-time computing constraintsUnderstanding of spacecraft dynamics, orbital mechanics, orbit determination, or high-fidelity orbit propagationMaster's or PhD in robotics, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, physics, or a related disciplineExperience taking a perception, navigation, or autonomy system from early development through real-world deploymentWhy Join UsOwn a mission-critical spacecraft perception and navigation capability from the ground upDefine the architecture rather than inherit a mature or legacy systemWork across perception, autonomy, GNC, avionics, embedded software, simulation, and flight hardwareApply robotics and autonomous systems technology to a new class of spacecraftJoin a well-funded seed-stage company as it moves toward flight demonstrations and operational systemsMeaningful equity ownershipComprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverageShort- and long-term disability insuranceLife insurancePaid parental leaveThree weeks of paid vacation10+ paid holidays per yearCompensation Details: $160,000 - $190,000